European Union

SPV does not have requisite mechanism to overcome US opposition: Entessar

TEHRAN, Jan. 23 (MNA) –Nader Entessar, professor emeritus of political science from university of South Alabama still insists that the SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) is a hollow shell and does not have the requisite mechanism to overcome US opposition.
2019-01-23 00:10
Talks with EU most likely to get nowhere: MP

TEHRAN, Jan. 22 (MNA) – A member of Parliament's National Security Committee said Tue. that Iran’s talks with the European Union for setting up the payment mechanism will most likely yield no result, saying the country needs to boost ties with neighbors in the meantime.
2019-01-22 10:41
Intelligence min. seizes 618kg heroin before being shipped to Europe

TEHRAN, Jan. 19 (MAN) – The Ministry of Intelligence seized and confiscated 618kg heroin before being forwarded to Europe.
2019-01-19 16:33
Over 3,000 activists sign petition to bar anti-Iran conf. in Warsaw

TEHRAN, Jan. 17 (MNA) – Over 3,000 activists in the United States and other countries have signed a petition urging the European countries to bar the US-led conference against Iran, which is due in Warsaw next month.
2019-01-17 16:41
Rouhani has adopted ‘good’ decisions in response to EU measures: Veep

TEHRAN, Jan. 17 (MNA) – Iranian First Vice-President Es’hagh Jahangiri said that President Rouhani and Supreme National Security Council have arrived at good decisions in response to unconstructive interactions of European countries with Iran.
2019-01-17 15:27
EU failure to implement SPV could worsen current situation: Italian expert

TEHRAN, Jan. 17 (MNA) – Dr. Pastori Gianluca says US secondary sanctions are jeopardizing the JCPOA and the EU failure to offer a meaningful implementation of the SPV could only worsen this state of things.
2019-01-17 00:21
Iran to cut ties with EU on drug trafficking, migration issues: reports

TEHRAN, Jan. 16 (MNA) – Iran intends to cut its cooperation with European countries regarding drug trafficking and migration issues, ISNA reported.
2019-01-16 16:20
EU-Iran to hold third science, technology work group in Brussels

TEHRAN, Jan. 16 (MNA) – A high- ranking delegation from Iran’s Ministry of Science, Research and Technology has arrived in Brussels, Belgium, to attend the third round of EU-Iran negotiations on science and technology on Wednesday.
2019-01-16 11:49
Iran calls on Europe to cut tariffs for Iranian goods down to zero

TEHRAN, Jan. 16 (MNA) – An official at the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran has called on Europe to cut down to zero the tariffs imposed on the import of Iranian goods, saying the move would send a message that Europe is serious about expanding trade with Iran.
2019-01-16 10:43
US-backed anti-Iran conference in Poland dishonors European identity: Kharrazi

TEHRAN, Jan. 15 (MNA) – The Head of Iran’s Foreign Policy Strategic Council Kamal Kharrazi has described the Polish government’s hosting of an anti-Iran conference under pressures from the United States as disgrace for the European identity.
2019-01-15 17:42
By: Hanif Ghaffari

Why is Tony Blair so angry?

TEHRAN, Jan. 15 (MNA) – The former British Prime Minister doesn't have a good time! On the one hand, Tony Blair is witnessing the continuation of the Brexit process, and on the other hand, He's in no way happy with what has happened inside the Labor Party! Tony Blair is one of the main opponents of the British withdrawal from the European Union.
2019-01-15 11:17
By: Ebrahim Fallahi

Iran’s oil market facing the new sanctions era; what to expect

TEHRAN, Jan. 14 (MNA) – After an expected hiatus in Iran’s oil exports to some of the country’s main customers following the reimposition of the US sanctions, once again the country’s old buyers are coming back to take advantage of the 180-day window which has been presented by the waivers granted in November.
2019-01-14 17:22
Deputy oil min.:

EU’s trade mechanism to be set up soon despite US pressure

TEHRAN, Jan. 14 (MNA) – Deputy Oil Minister Zamaninia said Sun. that despite US pressure, the EU’s payment system aimed at facilitating trade with Iran will be set up soon.
2019-01-14 11:37
Not all EU members favor SPV: Shireen Hunter

TEHRAN, Jan. 13 (MNA) – Shireen Tahmaasb Hunter, a professor of Political Science at Georgetown University, tells the Tehran Times that “it was clear from the beginning that establishing a special and separate channel for commercial dealings between Iran and Europe would not be easy.”
2019-01-13 17:18
Iran dismisses rumors on JCPOA exit

TEHRAN, Jan. 13 (MNA) – Iran has strongly dismissed the rumors on Tehran’s exit from the 2015 nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
2019-01-13 09:23
By: Hanif Ghaffari

A clear signal for the German chancellor

TEHRAN, Jan. 12 (MNA) – It's a difficult time for the Chancellor of Germany. She had to pass the power inside the Christian Democrat Party to her rival, Kramp-Karenbauer. In a conference, Karenbauer rejected claims that she was the “mini Merkel”.
2019-01-12 16:41
Former US diplomat:

Warsaw anti-Iran conf. to dim potential agreements with Iran

TEHRAN, Jan. 12 (MAN) – Former US Under Secretary of State for International Security Affairs Frank Wisner says the upcoming anti-Iran conference in the Polish capital, Warsaw, will only reduce the chances of reaching an agreement between Tehran and Washington.
2019-01-12 11:18
German FM:

EU working ‘urgently’ to finalize payment channel for Iran

TEHRAN, Jan. 12 (MAN) – German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Fri. that the European Union is working “urgently” to clarify the final requirements for setting up a payment channel to facilitate trade with Iran in the face of US sanctions.
2019-01-12 09:42
Boroujerdi:

Delay in implementing SPV to help strengthen Iran’s ties with China, Russia

TEHRAN, Jan. 11 (MNA) – Member of Iranian Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said that any delay in the implementation of Europe’s trade mechanism with Iran dubbed “Special-Purpose Vehicle” will help Iran to strengthen its ties with China and Russia.
2019-01-11 13:45
Iran to take big decisions regarding security coop. with Europe: Source

TEHRAN, Jan. 09 (MNA) – According to an informed diplomatic source, Iran will reconsider its intelligence and security cooperation with European countries after EU’s decision to impose sanctions against some Iranians.
2019-01-09 15:42
Ghasemi condemns ‘irrational’ EU decision on sanctioning Iran

TEHRAN, Jan. 09 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson condemned the ‘irrational’ decision of the European Union to impose sanctions against some Iranians because of some ‘baseless’ accusations.
2019-01-09 15:19
By: Mohammad Ghaderi

The black nightmare of the Green Continent

TEHRAN, Jan. 09 (MNA) – The deployment of about 147,000 police officers on Paris and other cities' streets in the early days of the New Year, and the increased security warnings in other EU member states, uncovers of a deep-seated crisis existing in the Green Continent.
2019-01-09 12:59
By: Martin Love

A random litany of potentially better news for Iran seen from 8000 miles

TEHRAN, Jan. 08 (MNA) – Iran is allegedly planning joint naval exercises with Russia in the Caspian Sea. The government in Kabul is said to be open to stronger ties and cooperation with Tehran. More countries are allegedly intending to keep open trade channels with Tehran, especially India and Pakistan, even if there’s no clear evidence yet of a European “Special Purposes Vehicle” to bypass US economic sanctions on Iran for trade purposes.
2019-01-08 16:13
EU’s trade mechanism for Iran to be set up “soon”: spox

TEHRAN, Jan. 08 (MNA) – European Union’s spokesperson said Mon. that the bloc is still working on setting up a payment mechanism to facilitate trade with Iran and bypass US sanctions.
2019-01-08 12:00
I do not think SPV covering wide areas of trade: Nephew

TEHRAN, Jan. 06 (MNA) – Richard Nephew, who served as the lead sanctions expert for the US team negotiating with Iran, is of the opinion that “I do think that there will be something called the SPV eventually created that facilitates trade between Europe and Iran, but I do not think it will be the same sort of SPV that was announced in September, covering wide areas of trade.”
2019-01-06 16:28
Europe needs to come to grips with JCPOA once for all: Fmr. Envoy

TEHRAN, Jan. 06 (MNA) – Former Iranian ambassador to Paris said Sun. that if Europe continues to use technical issues as an excuse to delay implementation of its trade mechanism with Iran, Tehran will see no reason to remain in the nuclear deal.
2019-01-06 13:41
Senior MP:

Iran isn’t counting on ‘economic’ aspect of EU’s trade mechanism

TEHRAN, Jan. 02 (MNA) – A senior member of Parliament told MNA on Wed. that Iran is not counting on the ‘economic’ aspect of the EU’s promised trade mechanism that aimed to facilitate trade with Iran in the face of US sanctions.
2019-01-02 10:00
By: Lu Wei

Freedom, sovereign debt, generational accounting and other myths

TEHRAN, Jan. 02 (MNA) – How to draw the line between the recent and still unsettled EU/EURO crisis and Asia’s success story? Well, it might be easier than it seems: Neither Europe nor Asia has any alternative.
2019-01-02 08:39
Iran ambassador to the EU:

In 2019, the nuclear deal is hanging by a thread

TEHRAN, Jan. 01 (MNA) – In an op-ed published on ‘euronews’, Iran ambassador to the EU Peiman Seadat warned the European Union that chances to continue Iran nuclear deal are fading away in 2019.
2019-01-01 20:48
Europe still committed to Iran nuclear deal: Mogherini

TEHRAN, Jan. 01 (MNA) – The EU foreign policy chief says that the 28 member states of the EU along with the rest of the international community are working to preserve Iran nuclear agreement.
2019-01-01 19:25